5 ways to help someone with PTSD

By Ashley Waddell

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that can affect anyone. For many people symptoms occur soon after witnessing a life-threatening event.

Here are five simple ways to help someone struggling with this issue:

• Do your research – Learn everything you can about it. By being more aware of the condition you will be able to better understand how to handle friends or family dealing with it.
• Be a good listener – If they want to talk to you listen to them. If they don’t feel like talking tell them that is perfectly okay. Let them know that you will be there for them if they change their mind.
• Avoid harsh remarks – For some people talking about their traumatic experience is part of the healing process. Avoid telling them that they should “move on” or “stop living in the past.”
• Be patient – Like any mental health problem PTSD isn’t something that affects everyone in the same way. Getting better takes time and isn’t something that happens overnight.
• Stay positive – Emphasize their strengths and help them see their positive qualities and successes.

Reid offers inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services for adults and seniors including helping with mental health issues such as depression and other emotional and behavioral problems. The Reid Health team is committed to helping patients obtain the highest quality of life possible.

Reid Psychiatric Services includes a team of psychiatrists licensed social workers certified nurses and others who are dedicated to the mission of wholeness body mind and spirit. Outpatient services provides psychiatric evaluations medication review/management individual/family therapy and group therapy.

For more information about PTSD click here.

Image by Marines from Arlington VA United States